English Literature Interview-style Questions

Note: Oxford and Cambridge do not publicly release any interview questions because they often reuse questions across application cycles. Below are interview-style questions of suitable difficulty that will help you prepare for your Oxbridge interview.

Question 1

What is irony? (Consider tragic, comic, and situational irony)

Question 2

What makes a novel a classic? Can a modern novel be a classic?

Question 3

Does every work of literature always have a moral? Is there such a thing as an immoral story/book?

Question 4

Have you ever visited an author's birthplace, or home, or a place that a text is about? Did this change the way you read the text? Is it a valuable thing to do?

Question 5

What is the difference between a reader and a critic, and which do you consider yourself to be? What is the point in reading criticism?

Interview Tips

  • Think out loud: The interviewer will be assessing your ability to think through complex problems. They can only do this if they know your thought process.

  • Be familiar with your syllabus: The interviewer can ask you a question from any topic you have been taught already in your A level/IB syllabus.

  • Practice: There is no better way to prepare than to practice.

For comprehensive guidance, visit our Oxbridge Interview Guide.